Endress+Hauser strengthens presence in South America

The process solutions company is creating its own sales subsidiary in Colombia to better serve a growing market

After two decades serving the Colombian market, the Endress+Hauser name stands for quality, safety and reliability. To fortify the brand even further, the company is acquiring 100 percent of the process automation business of Colsein Ltda., its longtime sales and service partner in Bogotà.

“We believe Colombia represents a market with great potential for further growth,” explains Michael Ziesemer, Chief Operating Officer of the Endress+Hauser Group. To date, the Swiss measurement and process automation specialist has been represented by local partner Colsein Ltda., whose portfolio includes a wide range of services such as calibration, maintenance and engineering, in addition to its sales activities.

To gain additional market share and fortify the Endress+Hauser brand even further in the country, Colsein’s process automation business will be transferred to a new Endress+Hauser sales subsidiary on 1 January 2016. The company will continue to maintain its headquarters in the capital city of Bogotà. Gabriel Navas, founder and managing director of Colsein, will stay on as a member of the board.

A committed team

Of Colsein's roughly 250 employees, nearly a third work in the process automation business. The company has represented Endress+Hauser in Colombia since 1993, successfully managing both domestic and international customers. “We’re pleased that we can rely on a skilled team of employees in Colombia who have worked hard to establish the Endress+Hauser brand in the country,” says Michael Ziesemer who adds: “This is a foundation we can build on.”

With a population of almost 50 million, Colombia is one of South America's most populated countries, second only to Brazil. After Chile, it's considered the continent's largest growth market. Although the oil and gas industry is the main driver of economic development, state-of-the-art measurement and automation technology is also helping to make process technologies efficient, safe and environmentally compatible in the food & beverage, water & wastewater and power & energy industries.